NEWS: It’s the end of the road for the Mitsubishi Pajero

It’s always sad when a storied and accomplished lineage comes to an end with no successor in sight. Today, that fate belongs to the Mitsubishi Pajero. On Wednesday Mitsubishi Motors announced that the illustrious off-roader will cease sales in Japan this August, and that the company will not develop the nameplate any further.

Since 1982, the Pajero (sold in the US as the Mitsubishi Montero and Dodge Raider) has been one of Japan’s flagship SUVs. Combining the comforts of a passenger car with true off-road capabilities, the truck has maintained its rugged body-on-frame construction even as car-based crossovers infiltrated the market. Its rise in popularity during the 80s and 90s coincided with Japan’s RV boom, which spawned countless vehicles for camping and outdoor activity enthusiasts.

What set the Pajero apart, and catapulted it to legend status in Japan and throughout much of Asia, was its dominance in the Paris-Dakar Rally. With 12 victories in one of the world’s toughest off-road competitions — including an unprecedented seven-year streak from 2001-07 — the Pajero made Mitsubishi the winningest marque in the race’s history. That record still stands to this day, even though Mitsubishi hasn’t participated officially since 2007.

Mitsubishi has produced over 3 million Pajeros with over 640,000 sold in Japan, but in recent years domestic sales have declined to just a few hundred a year. The current generation, the Pajero’s fourth, has been on the market since 2006, the same year Mitsubishi halted US sales of the Montero.

To mark the end of the Pajero family tree, Mitsubishi announced a Final Edition model. It will offer the most popular options, such as roof rails and leather upholstery, in a single trim with special badging to denote that it is the last of its kind. Only 700 will be made. Mitsubishi is also offering a commemorative decal set and a serial numbered wristwatch made by Citizen.

Mitsubishi will continue to produce the fourth-gen Pajero in its Gifu Prefecture factory for export. The Pajero is still popular in southeast Asia and Latin America, but how long that will last is unknown. With no development planned for a next generation and already 13 years on the vine for the current one, it’s likely living on borrowed time.

An unbroken 37 years is a long run for any model, but when it’s one as acclaimed as the Pajero, the demise is particularly heartbreaking. Sports cars have been on the decline for decades, but 4x4s, especially ones with competition provenance, seemed as if they’d be able to more easily find a place with enthusiasts as tall, AWD wagons became the vehicular norm. Instead, we see the passing of yet another great machine built with purpose. With all its iconic nameplates save for the Delica now gone or reconstituted as shadows of what they once were, it truly feels like the end of an era for Mitsubishi.

Yet ANOTHER wrong move from Mitsubishi! The kill the iconic Lancer Evolution, and now this! Sales are low, sure they are when you continue to sell the same vehicle year after year with no improvements! Ive been a fan and owner of Mitsubishi cars since 1985. Im so upset with their decisions year, after year! With the termination of the Lancer Evo, they handed subaru the market for 4WD street/rally cars, and now the Pajero! Low sales? Why do you suppose? No proper sales? Selling the same thing with no improvements wont help you! I am a faithful original owner of: 1989 Starion SHP, 2006 Lancer Evo IX-MR, and a 2018 Outlander Sport (RVR/ASX), but Ive owned a total of six Mitsubishis. What a disappointment this company is now. Well my two cars will increase in value…

Current Mitsubishi management should be lined up against a brick wall and be shot in the balls, hopeless bunch, never knew how to capitalise on what is good for the company. Pojero set the bench mark for today’s SUV.,a true legend

I agree with Ben. My 1984 built/1985 on the road, 4 cylinder, petrol, manual, LWB Pajero Wagon is still going. It has a reconditioned engine, our 2 kids learnt to drive on it, it’s taken us to many outback areas of Australia, is extremely useful for carrying all sorts of loads & I love it dearly. No frills so not so much to go wrong with it. We also have a newer model so are Pajero fans – what a retrograde step by Mitsubisi to stop making them.

Mitsubishi has been watching the market for quite some years to determine what the next Pajero should be. With diesel fuel’s future looking grim and electric vehicles set to pounce, where does a manufacturer spend it’s development dollars? So Mitsubishi have tried to keep the current Pajero relevant waiting for the market to settle into its new direction. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened in time and the old girl just can’t keep up any more. Not Mitsubishi’s fault. She’s still a good seller in many parts of the world though. Here in Australia she still sells well, though far from topping the charts. Unfortunately though as the gap widens between Paj and the new breed the writing is on the wall. Such a shame.

Obviously you don’t know how to drive a Pajero off road…My 94 NJ has done every iconic track in Tassie and keeps up to the others with there 3inch lifts and 35’s..
Pick the right line and you will out drive other known brands of 4wd’s…